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7 December 2004
PR/E42/04

51st Session of the United Nations University's Council meeting is being held in Helsinki, 6 - 10 December 2004

The Council of the United Nations University, which is the governing Council of the University, meets in Helsinki during 6 - 10 December 2004 for its 51st session. The Chairperson of the UNU Council is Professor Vappu Taipale, Director-General of The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), an agency under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland.

The Council of UNU meets annually to formulate the principles and policies which govern the activities and operations of the United Nations University. Among many other responsibilities, the Council decides upon the research and training centres and programmes which are to constitute the totality of the University in developed or developing countries, considers and approves the work programme, and adopts the budget of the University on the basis of proposals submitted to it by the Rector.

The UNU Council is established on a broad geographical basis with due regard to major academic, scientific, educational and cultural trends in the world, taking into account the various fields of study. The list of 24 members of the Council is herewith attached.

The UNU Centre is located in Tokyo, Japan. It coordinates the overall research, capacity-building, dissemination and networking activities with its 13 Research and Training Centres and Programmes around the world. The UNU works closely with the United Nations and its specialized agencies as well as with academic, policy and NGO communities worldwide. The main research programme areas of the UNU are Peace and Governance, and Environment and Development.

The 51st Session of the UNU Council is being held in Helsinki, where UNU-WIDER, the first Research and Training Centre of the United Nations University, is located. The Rector of UNU, Professor Hans van Ginkel, and the directors of all UNU Research and Training Centres and Programmes (RTCs & RTPs) will also participate in the Council meeting.

On the occasion of UNU Council session, a scientific seminar on the Research for Tomorrow's World, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of Finland and the United Nations University on Thursday, 9 December 2004 at 15.30 hours. Issues concerned with environment, technology, poverty and conflict lie at the heart of the global development agenda. They are also the core interests of the United Nations University. This seminar will bring together scholars from the United Nations University and the Finnish academic community to discuss how research can improve our understanding of how the world is evolving and how it can assist in the design of policies for a better global future. The seminar will be held at the House of Estates (Säätytalo) and the programme is attached. The seminar is open for the media representatives.

The list of the UNU Council members and details on the United Nations University are enclosed. For more details on the United Nations University and its network: www.unu.edu

For more details and interviews with the participants, please contact:

Growth and Equity: The Case of Finland Markus Jäntti (Senior Research Associate at UNU-WIDER, Helsinki

United Nations University

Basic Facts:

Mission: "to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States"

Five Key Roles:

An international community of scholars
A bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community
A think-tank for the United Nations system
A builder of capacities, particularly in developing countries
A platform for dialogue and new and creative ideas

Structure:

Governing Council: 24 international experts serving in their individual capacity Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan Institutes: 13 Research and Training Centres and Programmes around the world Partners: Over 30 UN organizations and more than 100 research institutions globally Programme Areas: Peace and Governance, and Environment and Development

Staff: 254 from over 30 countries
Established: By the United Nations General Assembly on 6 December 1973 [Resolution 3081 (XXVIII)]

Council of the United Nations University

The Council of the UNU is the governing board of the University and is composed of 24 members who are appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of UNESCO. Members serve in their individual capacity for six-year terms. The Rector of the UNU is the chief academic and administrative officer of the University and is a member of the Council.

Professor Vappu Taipale, the current Chairperson of the UNU Council, is the Director-General, of The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), which is an expert agency of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland.

UNU Research and Training Centres and Programmes Worldwide

UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki, Finland

UNU Institute for New Technologies (UNU-INTECH), Maastricht, The Netherlands

Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala (Sri Lanka), Secretary-General, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Colombo, Sri Lanka; former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations, New York; and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva

Dr. Ji, Fusheng (China), former Director-General, Department of High Technology and Fundamental Research of China; and former Counselor, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations

Professor Peter H. Katjavivi (Namibia), Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Brussels, Belgium; and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

Professor Marju Lauristin (Estonia), Professor of Social Communication, Tartu University; and former Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia